Sunday, 7 July 2013

TWO VERY DIFFERENT "SAINTS"

THIS WEEK POPE FRANCIS ANNOUNCED THE CANONIZATION OF TWO RECENT POPES - JOHN XX111 AND JOHN PAUL 11.THESE TWO MEN WERE VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, TWO VERY DIFFERENT POPES ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT SAINTS.

JOHN XX111

POPE JOHN XX111 HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY HEROES. HE WAS FROM AN ITALIAN PEASANT BACKGROUND AND HE REMAINED WARM, FRIENDLY AND PERSONABLE ALL HIS LIFE.

HE BECAME POPE AT AN ADVANCED AGE AND THROUGH CALLING THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL HE CHANGED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THAT HAD BEEN STUCK FOR 400 YEARS.

THE SAYING OF HIS THAT I LIKE MOST IS: "AT MY WINDOW A LITTLE LIGHT WILL ALWAYS KEEP BURNING. ALL MAY COME IN - THE ARMS OF A FRIENDS ARE WAITING".

HE HAD A SENSE OF HUMOUR AND CAME ACROSS AS DEEPLY COMPASSIONATE. HE WAS NOT LIKED BY THE CIVIL SERVICE IN THE VATICAN - THE CURIA. IF A POPE IS NOT LIKED BY THE CURIA THAT IS GENERALLY A SIGN THAT HE IS A GOOD POPE.

JOHN PAUL 11

POPE FRANCIS HAS ALSO DECLARED THAT JOHN PAUL 11 IS TO BE CANONIZED.

I WOULD NOT BE A FAN OF JOHN PAUL 11. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS VERY MEDIA FRIENDLY AND SOMEWHAT OF A CELEBRITY HE WAS STILL DEEPLY CONSERVATIVE AND DOMINEERING. I DIDN'T LIKE JP 11 FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS:

1. HIS APPOINTMENT OF HARD MAN RATZINGER TO HEAD THE CONGREGATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH - THE FORMER INQUISITION.

2. HIS INVOLVEMENT IN WORLD POLITICS - ESPECIALLY IN POLAND.

3. HIS ABSOLUTE OPPOSITION TO REAL CHANGE IN THE CHURCH ON MATTERS OF OBLIGATORY CELIBACY, HOMOSEXUALITY, CONTRACEPTION, WOMEN PRIESTS ETC.

4, HIS CONNECTIONS WITH ORGANISATIONS LIKE OPUS DEI AND THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST.

5. HIS COVERING UP OF THE SEXUAL ABUSES OF MARCIEL IN THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST WHO GAVE JOHN PAUL MILLIONS FOR THE VATICAN AND POLAND.

I GOT THE DISTINCT IMPRESSION THAT HE WAS A "STREET ANGEL AND A HOUSE DEVIL" - GOOD IN PUBLIC BUT DOMINEERING IN PRIVATE.

ONE DID FEEL SORRY FOR HIM AS HE AGED AND BECAME MORE ILL. BUT WHY DID HE NOT DO LIKE BENEDICT AND RETIRE? DID HE NOT WANT TO RELINQUISH POWER?

THEY SAY THE THREE GREAT SINS OF MAN ARE: IN YOUTH, LUST, IN MID LIFE, GREED AND IN OLD AGE, POWER.

I BELIEVE THAT POPE FRANCIS HAD AND HAS HIS OWN GREAT RESERVATIONS ABOUT JOHN PAUL 11 AND THAT IS WHY HE IS CANONIZING JOHN XXX111 ALONG WITH HIM EVEN THOUGH THE REQUIRED "SECOND MIRACLE" IS NOT AVAILABLE IN JOHN XX111'S CASE.

FRANCIS IS PUTTING JOHN XX111 FORWARD ALMOST AS AN ANTIDOTE TO JOHN PAUL 11.

ANYWAY SURELY WE SHOULD LEAVE IT TO GOD TO DECIDE WHO IS AND WHO IS NOT A SAINT?

BUT IF I WAS TO ASK THE INTERCESSION OF THESE TWO SAINTS I WOULD VEER WELL AWAY FROM JOHN PAUL 11 AND TALK TO JOHN XX111.

2 comments:

JP II is NO saint. He knew about the UNIVERSAL ABUSE of CHILDREN but was more concerned about the RC CHURCH and HER reputation. Why oh why are people buying into this! I am sure the Legionaries of Christ are hoping that their MAN Marcial Maciel LC will be granted some kind of 'HOLY' recognition! Perhaps they could pay for all of these costly events to take place - or has the MONEY been exchanged already!